Casket-lowering device.



G. S. MEWHIRTER.

CASKET LOWERING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1910.

Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH COQWASHINGTON. D. c.

GUY S. MEWHIR'I'ER, 0F HULETT, WYOMING.

CASKET-LOVJERING DEVICE.

invitees.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, G UY S. Mmvrrin'rnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hi1; lett, in toe county of Crook, State of Wyoming, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Casket-Lowering Devices;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdcscript ion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relat-csfto a co'tlin attachment and more particularly tothe class of casket. lowering devices.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of thischaracter in which a casket may be conveniently lowered into a grave andthat will permit the concealment of th said lowering medium after thecasket has been lowered into the bottom of the grave.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an attachment forcaskets or other receptacles, which when disposed at or socured to thesame at suitable points, will facilitate the lowering of the samewithout the use of hand straps, the device including a spring drumhaving a tape normally wound thereon and adapted to unwind by the weightof the casket, while such tapes are provided with hand grips and meansfor relieving the spring drum of the weight of the casket when the tapeis unwound.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings disclosing the preferred form of embodiment of the inventionand pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

in the drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coflin with thelowering mechanism mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a vertical transversesectional view through one of the devices. Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. l is a side ele vation of acoflin with the invention applied thereto. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary planview of a portion of one of the straps near its inner end with the stopthereon. Fig. 6 is an edge view thereof.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals 5 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 27, M10.

Patented Aug. 1%),19313.

Serial No. 569,181.

designates a cofiin which is of the ordinary well-known construction thesame being shown merely to illustrate the manner of mounting theinvention thereon and the operation thereof as will be hereinafter morefully described. To the side alls of the coiiin 5 near opposite endsthereof are connected the lowering devices each comprising a hollowcasing 6 in which is centrally lo cated a stud spindle 7 the latterbeing bifurcated as at 8 for a portion of its length and within thisbifurcation is engaged one end of a coiled winding spring 9 the latterbeing disposed within a rotatable drum 10 the same being provided withsuitable cent al openings through which is passed the spindle 7 whichlatter forms a journal for the said drum 10 during its rotation withinthe casing G of the device, the spring 9 having its other end fixed tothe inner face of the periphery of the drum 10 so that upon rotation ofthe said drum in one direction. the spring will be wound upon thespindle T for a purpose as will be hereinafter more fully described.Fixed to the periphery of the drum 10 of each device is one end of astrip of web 11 the latter being normally wound exteriorly upon the drumand this web has its opposite free end slidably protruded through a slot12 contained in the upper face or top of the casing 6, the free end ofthe web being connected with a loop handle 13 so that a person maymanually grip the protruded end of the web 11 when it is desired toautomatically lower the coffin 5 within a grave to the bottom thereof.

Each case 6 has a suitable opening in its outer side face which isnormally closed by a closure plate 14 the latter being detachablysecured by suitable fasteners 15 so that upon removing the same theplate may be detached to permit access to be had to the interior of thecasing 6. On each web 11 near the end connected to the drum 10 is fixeda stop member 16 the latter adapted to engage the inner face of thechamber 17 in which the drum is mounted circumferentially of the opening12 in the top of the said casing on the unwinding of the said web 11 torelieve the strain of the weight of the coffin 5 upon the spring 9within the drum when the said co'tlin has been lowered within the grave.

In the ope "ation of lowering the coflin 5 it is necessary for fourattendants to engage the hand loops 1 -3 on the free ends of the webs 11normally wound upon the drums '10 within the casingGwhereupon the weightof the cotlin 5 will cause the unwinding of the said webs 11 from thedrums 10 causing the springs 9 to be wound upon the spindles 7 and onthe complete unwinding of the webs from the drums 10 the stop members 16will engagev the inner faces of the tops of the chamber 17circumferentially of the openings 12 thereby relieving the weight of theoofiin 5 from the said springs 9 after it has been lowered within thegrave to the desired distance. After the coflin has been lowered in thegrave the attendants release the free ends of the webs 11 whereupon thespring 9 will cause the automatic Winding of the webs 11 upon the drums10 so that the said webs will became concealed within the casing 6 ofthe device.

Nhat is claimed is 1. An attachment for caskets comprising a casinghaving a drum ro-tatably supported therein, a webbing normally woundupon said drum, a spring adapted to be wound on the unwinding of thewebbing from the drum and effecting the rewinding of the webbing uponthe drum when said webbing has been released and means to relieve thestrain of the casket upon the spring when said webbing has been unwound.

2. The combination with a casing having a chamber therein and a slotthrough the casing communicating with the chamber; of a shaft centrallymounted within the easing, a drum rotatable on the shaft, a springconnecting the shaft and drum, a webbing connected to the periphery ofthe drum and extending through the slot, said spring normally windingthe webbing on the drum, a handle carried by the webbing at its free endand a fixed stop member carried by the webbing near its end connected tothe drum to engage the inner face of the casing and remove strain of theweight of an object supported upon the webbing from the spring.

In testimony wh ereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

GUY S. MEl/VHIRTER. Witnesses:

A. C. TURMAURE, J. R. PADGETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

- Washington, I). C.

